Mr. Strauss served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Unilever United States, Inc., a primary business group of Unilever, the international food and home and personal care organization, from May 2000 until his retirement in December 2004. While at Unilever, he also held the positions of Group President, Unilever Home and Personal Care--North America since September 1999 and Chairman of the North America Committee, which coordinates Unilever's North American activities. Mr. Strauss also is a member of the Boards of Directors of Aegis Group plc. and The Hershey Company.